Footpath over the vestingwallen
Gorinchem is a true fortified town, beautifully situated along the Merwede and Linge rivers. Around 1600, the medieval city became a 'modern' fortress. The Eighty Years' War was in full swing and the fortress kept the Spaniards at bay.
In the Disaster Year 1672 - the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was attacked by England, France and the dioceses of Münster and Cologne - Gorinchem became an important fortress in the Old Dutch Waterline. Gorinchem also remained a strategic stronghold in the New Dutch Waterline.
The original vestingwallen with bastions are still almost completely intact. The footpath over the vestingwallen goes all the way around and offers beautiful views over the harbours and rivers; unique in the Netherlands! Gorinchem is therefore the largest authentic fortress in the Netherlands.
Along the way, you will come across many more...
Gorinchem is a true fortified town, beautifully situated along the Merwede and Linge rivers. Around 1600, the medieval city became a 'modern' fortress. The Eighty Years' War was in full swing and the fortress kept the Spaniards at bay.
In the Disaster Year 1672 - the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was attacked by England, France and the dioceses of Münster and Cologne - Gorinchem became an important fortress in the Old Dutch Waterline. Gorinchem also remained a strategic stronghold in the New Dutch Waterline.
The original vestingwallen with bastions are still almost completely intact. The footpath over the vestingwallen goes all the way around and offers beautiful views over the harbours and rivers; unique in the Netherlands! Gorinchem is therefore the largest authentic fortress in the Netherlands.
Along the way, you will come across many more monuments and fortress parts. At three places, you can even take a virtual look back to the Disaster Year 1672, when the Old Dutch Waterline was successfully deployed against the French.
This is what you will see
Starting point:
Walking junction 40
Gorinchem
Navigate to the starting point
End point:
Walking route 40
Gorinchem
Navigate to end point
Description
Starting point:
Walking junction 40
Gorinchem
Navigate to the starting point
The route starts at the Gorinchem bus and treinstation, but you can start your round trip at any junction. At each entrance to the fortress, you can go up and down the footpath, whether you start at the Dalempoort, the Arkelpoort, the Kanselpoort, Buiten de Waterpoort or the Vijfde Uitgang. At the Fifth Exit, you can also stroll a bit below as far as the Dalem dike (or vice versa).
End point:
Walking route 40
Gorinchem
Navigate to end point
- 40
- 38
- 33
- 30
- 39
- 35
- 33
- 38
- 40